Mother

Jeri Jacquin, Movie Maven

Open in theatres this Friday is the lengths a mother will go through for her child with director Joon ho-Bong and Magnolia Pictures offering of the Korean tale “Mother”.

This film tells the story of Mother (Hye-ja Kim), a single mother who lives a quiet life with her son Do-Joon (Bin Won). Joon is a little slower than other boys and after a night out drinking, he is arrested for the murder of a village girl.

The village, as well as the girls’ family, want justice and in swift time Joon is found guilty and sent to jail – case closed. Trying to get help from the police and officials leads nowhere as Mother looks for answers to free her son.

Believing him to be innocent, she sets out to prove it. Mother turns to Joon’s best friend Jin-Tae (Ku Jin) who also doesn’t believe his friend is guilty and helps Mother find answers.

She uncovers secrets and lies with the truth somewhere in the middle of it all.

FINAL WORD: Kim is wonderful to watch as Mother. She turns every which a way to find out who is responsible for the murder. Trying to get help is impossible and Kim plays her role with quiet desperation. The belief that a mother will do anything for her child is proven strongly in this role.

Won is excellent as Joon! From mild mannered son with a simple mind to a boy trying to be a man, Won pulls it off. Jin as Tae is also riveting to watch – the viewer is never quite sure what his motivations are.

The rest of the cast, although very good are merely supporting to Kim. She carries this film on her shoulders and does so extremely well.  This is a very well done Korean import to be sure!

This shows director Bong’s ability to tell a story and direct it well. The cinematography is beautiful to watch from the beginning scene of Mother dancing in the field to the very end watching it all come full circle.

This film has garnered several nominations for awards including: the Asian Pacific Screen Awards, Blue Dragon Awards, Dubai International Film Festival, Mar del Plata Film Festival and, more recently the Independent Spirit Award for “Best Foreign Film”.

TUBS OF POPCORN: I give “Mother” four tubs of popcorn out of five. It is a riveting film to watch from one scene to the next. The story tells itself slowly with twists and turns. As each character unfolds they also begin to show their true selves, it is one shock after another leading to an ending that, if anything, is relieving!  

In the end – there isn’t anything Mother won’t do to protect her child.